Backup query

[Supersadie]

I have both mac and windows. I'd like to backup to both and access all the files from either system if possible.

I have bought a Seagate Backup Plus Slim external drive but am still unsure about whether to reformat it so I can backup both OS types or to get some proprietary software like Paragon to enable mac to behave like a native NTFS user. Sounds great, but would rather not shell out more cash! Every system seems to have drawbacks.

Can anyone 'definitively' advise in terms of which would be best and, if a change of format is necessary, how to go about it?

Thank you

 

[Btyroler]

I only use macs and bought this drive which I believe was originally formatted for Windows by mistake. So I had to reformat it in order to use it. I did not need to purchase any additional software. I am actually confused as to whether it can now be read by windows. If I had not reformatted it I believe it could be read by both. Perhaps someone could explain.

 

[Supersadie]

Oops...did someone just hijack my thread?!
Never mind. I think mac and windows can read ntfs, but it's the writing part that's the issue. So if you back everything up and then want to delete or change anything, you're stuck with the wrong format. That's my understanding.

 

[Btyroler]

Oops...did someone just hijack my thread?!
Never mind. I think mac and windows can read ntfs, but it's the writing part that's the issue. So if you back everything up and then want to delete or change anything, you're stuck with the wrong format. That's my understanding.

B$H asked me to respond as that is where I got your message... sorry..

 

[techwarrior]

Disk Utility can partition and format the drive. If you are going to use Time Machine for Mac backups, one partition will need to be HFS+ (macOS Extended), but Windows machines cannot mount HFS+ volumes. For the PC backups, NTFS or FAT\ExFAT. Macs can mount and read\write FAT\ExFAT, but NTFS requires something like Paragon.